Koo-Koo for the Coconut

It’s the dead of winter with most of the U.S. under a deep freeze that seems to have no end (meteorologically and economically). So, let’s talk about Hawaii.

Have you been earnestly earning your Best Western Rewards points in colder climes and dreaming about redeeming them somewhere warm and tropical? It so, set your sites on the Best Western Coconut Hotel in Waikiki where I cooled my heels last weekend. (Rooms here go for 36,000 Rewards points per night.)

There are, of course, hundreds of hotel choices in Honolulu and as a travel writer for the last 20 years, I’ve slept and schlepped my way through many of them. But when air fares from California to Hawaii plunged to less than $300 round trip this month, I decided to jump on the plane and try the Coconut. Wow, was I impressed. (I know, I know…I’m jaded due to my affiliation with Best Western, but if you check out user-generated reviews at sites such as tripadvisor.com, you’ll see that I’m not alone in my praise for the place.)

Here’s why:

Renovation: A year ago, the Coconut was closed for a full refurbishment and recently re-opened full of spunk and light. Think white terrazzo floors, modern, lime-green furnishings, four bars of free Wi-Fi throughout, flat screen TV’s, granite-topped kitchenettes in each room, palm trees and views of verdant mountains from breezy verandas.

Location: The Coconut is not on the beach, but in this case, that’s a good thing. The beachfront hotel scene in Honolulu is mostly noisy, traffic clogged and full of tourists and tour buses. If you’re traveling on business or just seeking some peace and quiet, it’s a relief to be a three blocks removed from all that.

Value: To me, new is always good, and with the recent renovation, the Coconut feels like a brand new hotel. Standard rooms currently go for as little as $120 per night. You can score a roomier executive suite for around $200. The presidential suite (see last week’s post) with two bedrooms, two baths, full kitchen, dining area and a huge rooftop patio with 360-degree views starts at about $400 per night. (All rates include free Wi-Fi and free breakfast.)

What do you plan to do with your Best Western Reward points? Will you save them up for someplace special, or use them to reduce your business travel expenses? Let me know!

Chris McGinnis hit the roads and skies early on and has never let up. As a kid on family vacations in the 60's, you'd find him in the airplane galley chatting with flight attendants, scoring airline wings or decks of cards and begging for visits to the cockpit. Later, Chris pursued a degree in international business....Why? Because of the opportunities to travel that such a career would bring. See all posts from Chris McGinnis | Read Chris 's Full bio Here

Heather Wilson is a corporate event manager and proud wife to a US Navy Sailor. Heather travels the globe for her career and blogs about all things "life" along the way. A proud cancer survivor, new(ish) bonus mom, reptile owning and Harley Davidson loving gal, her topics are diverse and nothing is off limits. She loves writing 'real deal' reviews and doing giveaways! Pull up a screen, share your thoughts and enjoy as she navigates the Life of a Traveling Navy Wife!

Teresa Strasser

Family Travel Expert

Teresa Strasser is an Emmy Award-winning writer and television host, but more importantly, she is a parallel parking phenom – an important skill for navigating family vacations! Having grown up in San Francisco and migrated to New York for school, Strasser has conquered both coasts with a wicked sense of humor and a “try anything once” attitude.

With more than 25 years of experience, renowned dog behavior expert and New York Times best-selling author Cesar Millan is one of the most sought-after authorities in the field of dog behavior and rehabilitation.

As a kid on family vacations in the 60's, you'd find him in the airplane galley chatting with flight attendants, scoring airline wings or decks of cards and begging for visits to the cockpit. Later, Chris pursued a degree in international business....Why? Because of the opportunities to travel that such a career would bring.

Micah and Jenna are the creators of the travel website, Wander The Map. As a married couple always constantly on the lookout for adventurous activities, they have turned their love of travel, videography and photography into full-time effort.

Hello world! My name is Nadine Sykora and I have been traveling for the world for the last few years and recording my experience. I love seeing new parts of the world and have stood on 6 continents. Whether I’m scuba diving with shark, snuggling with cheetahs or just sipping a smoothie in a café, each new day brings a new thrill.

Manny is the Chairman of the Hispanicize brand of Latino social media platforms, including the annual Hispanicize event, Hispanicize Wire, the Latina Mom Bloggers network and the Hispanic PR Blog. In addition, he is a major shareholder in the Being Latino platform and publishes his own personal family blog PapiBlogger.

Jason Fogelson is a freelance writer and creative director. The current Vice President of the Motor Press Guild of America, he has covered cars, trucks, SUVs and motorcycles for a variety of print, web and broadcast media, including Forbes.com, About.com, AOL Autos, CNN.com, the Los Angeles Times, Mazdasport Magazine and Fine Living Network.

Bryson has his own Marketing Company and has been affiliated with Best Western since 2009. Prior to that, Bryson held senior positions in both the corporate and leisure travel sectors, at American Express and Sears Canada. He also spent time at Travelweek, one of Canada's leading travel trade publications.

Dena Roché is a luxury wellness travel expert and creator of The Travel Diet, a program that teaches travelers how travel feeds your spirit, nourishes your brain AND whittles your waist. Her travel, spa and lifestyle articles have been featured in magazines like Modern Luxury, Robb Report, Great Golf, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons and other regional magazines and online publications.

By the age of 10, I had visited the Caribbean, Italy, France, Korea, Japan, Thailand and a number of destinations throughout Canada and the United States. My thirst for traveling and exploring new places continued into my adult years, and these days while most of my travels have been business-related, I manage to squeeze in as much personal traveling into my busy life as possible!

Ever since my parents threw me in the back of the car at the age of five on a road trip through Arizona, I've been hooked. Travel Junkie. The wonder of travel for me is finding the unique aspects of each destination that gives it character.

Traveling is my favorite hobby. Anytime there's an opportunity to take a trip, I will do everything I can to make it happen. Volunteering for work trips, any type of family event, and leisure travels with my own family are all my idea of fun.